Is it possible to be a religious atheist? - Atheist Nexus2015-03-31T22:36:19Zhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/is-it-possible-to-be-a-religious-atheist?commentId=2182797%3AComment%3A1977619&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noAfrikans are said to be notor…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-07-03:2182797:Comment:19957082012-07-03T18:00:25.640ZNsajigwa sisi kwa sisihttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Nsajigwasisikwasisi
<div class="description xj_comment_editor xg_user_generated" id="desc_2182797Comment1995961"><p>Afrikans are said to be notoriously religious...it has been analyzed again and again, by afrikans and non afrikans..!</p>
<p>Okot p Bitek, an Afrikan renaissance man from Uganda (anthropologist, dancer footballer, teacher, educator, lecturer, novelist, social activist) also saw to it that while we are are "religious" and yet we are atheistic at the same time..!</p>
<p>that our gods are in fact…</p>
</div>
<div class="description xj_comment_editor xg_user_generated" id="desc_2182797Comment1995961"><p>Afrikans are said to be notoriously religious...it has been analyzed again and again, by afrikans and non afrikans..!</p>
<p>Okot p Bitek, an Afrikan renaissance man from Uganda (anthropologist, dancer footballer, teacher, educator, lecturer, novelist, social activist) also saw to it that while we are are "religious" and yet we are atheistic at the same time..!</p>
<p>that our gods are in fact deities only...strong but not omnipotent, great but not omnipresent,wise but not omniscient, old but not eternal...</p>
<p>according to p bitek, it was the eurocentric theologians and some anthropologists who "hellenised" afrikan deities to make them look/like their own Abrahamic one..!</p>
<p>so from those ground, I an Afrikan freethinker feel justified to see that while i can be religious, yet i am atheistic. Adding Ludwig feuerbach that our ideas of god are in fact our mind projection of a wish, that then we come to believe as true..!</p>
<p>thus there are god...but created by human beings, and not other way round..!</p>
<p>thus an atheist who believes in god...god created by human being..!</p>
</div> Afrikans are said to be notor…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-07-03:2182797:Comment:19959612012-07-03T17:54:06.885ZNsajigwa sisi kwa sisihttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Nsajigwasisikwasisi
<p>Afrikans are said to be notoriously religious...it has been analyzed again and again, by afrikans and non afrikans..!</p>
<p>Okot p Bitek, an Afrikan renaissance man from Uganda (anthropologist, dancer footballer, teacher, educator, lecturer, novelist, social activist) also saw to it that while we are are "religious" and yet we are atheistic at the same time..!</p>
<p>that our gods are in fact deities only...strong but not omnipotent, great but not omnipresent,wise but not omniscient, old…</p>
<p>Afrikans are said to be notoriously religious...it has been analyzed again and again, by afrikans and non afrikans..!</p>
<p>Okot p Bitek, an Afrikan renaissance man from Uganda (anthropologist, dancer footballer, teacher, educator, lecturer, novelist, social activist) also saw to it that while we are are "religious" and yet we are atheistic at the same time..!</p>
<p>that our gods are in fact deities only...strong but not omnipotent, great but not omnipresent,wise but not omniscient, old but not eternal...</p>
<p>according to p bitek, it was the eurocentric theologians and some anthropologists who "hellenised" afrikan deities to make them look/like their own Abrahamic one..!</p>
<p>so from those ground, I an Afrikan freethinker feel justified to see that while i can be religious, yet i am atheistic. Adding Ludwig feuerbach that our ideas of god are in fact our mind projection of a wish, that then we come to believe as true..!</p>
<p>thus there are god...but created by human beings, and not other way round..!</p>
<p>thus an atheist who believes in god...god created by human being..!</p> Write4U, you have me there: "…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-10:2182797:Comment:19777202012-06-10T22:05:46.851ZJoan Denoohttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Write4U, you have me there: "<span> creating a lack of belief (an emotional void) is more difficult than to offer a logical alternative which fills the void."</span></p>
<p><span>I also remember the "human potential movement" and how helpful that was for me to look to myself for definition instead of accepting others' definition of me. </span></p>
<p><span>Truthfully, my goal is to settle down my volcanic anger against religion and instead put something of value in its place. </span></p>
<p>Write4U, you have me there: "<span> creating a lack of belief (an emotional void) is more difficult than to offer a logical alternative which fills the void."</span></p>
<p><span>I also remember the "human potential movement" and how helpful that was for me to look to myself for definition instead of accepting others' definition of me. </span></p>
<p><span>Truthfully, my goal is to settle down my volcanic anger against religion and instead put something of value in its place. </span></p> Jessica, you are very generou…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-10:2182797:Comment:19777192012-06-10T22:00:16.064ZJoan Denoohttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Jessica, you are very generous with your praise, but I must say, I am profoundly happy and grateful that I was able to escape, and perhaps others have stories that will give us insight into other ways to find our own lives. </p>
<p>Jessica, you are very generous with your praise, but I must say, I am profoundly happy and grateful that I was able to escape, and perhaps others have stories that will give us insight into other ways to find our own lives. </p> Joan, no reason to salute me.…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-10:2182797:Comment:19776192012-06-10T21:47:35.330ZJessica Bermanhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JessicaBerman
Joan, no reason to salute me. I thought all families were like mine until I went to college. There I discovered how lucky I was! It's people like you who overcame such a violent and abusive family and now live such a full life who deserve the accolades.
Joan, no reason to salute me. I thought all families were like mine until I went to college. There I discovered how lucky I was! It's people like you who overcame such a violent and abusive family and now live such a full life who deserve the accolades. Jessica, indeed, our many dif…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-10:2182797:Comment:19775382012-06-10T21:28:43.933ZJoan Denoohttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Jessica, indeed, our many different religious experiences impact the ways we view life, let alone how we perceive god or not-god, or the meaning of life, or the things we value. </p>
<p>Another friend on Facebook recalled her precious moments created because of religious traditions and they clearly give her comfort and joy. I celebrate that. </p>
<p>My memories of people assuring me they had the "one true way" and then observing them treating others with contempt and hate and loathing,…</p>
<p>Jessica, indeed, our many different religious experiences impact the ways we view life, let alone how we perceive god or not-god, or the meaning of life, or the things we value. </p>
<p>Another friend on Facebook recalled her precious moments created because of religious traditions and they clearly give her comfort and joy. I celebrate that. </p>
<p>My memories of people assuring me they had the "one true way" and then observing them treating others with contempt and hate and loathing, formed my thinking. Racism was a big issue in our family as was sexism. Also, the notion of one person having the right to have control over another or judging another forced me away. Very happily, I discovered I am not alone and there are many others who have found great pleasure, and comfort, and joy while making the statement, "I have not found compelling evidence that god exists." When and if I do, I shall gladly change my position. </p>
<p>In the meantime, I enjoy learning of your life and experiences and pleasures of your family and your traditions. I salute you. </p> For me the religious rites I…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-10:2182797:Comment:19775322012-06-10T20:58:36.021ZJessica Bermanhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JessicaBerman
For me the religious rites I value are related to family. Most of our observance was at home - our own or at extended family. That's why I participate still. I'm extremely fortunate to have fantastic memories of these. My twin niece and nephew are having their B'nai Mitzvah next week. It's at a Reconstructionist synagogue where belief in G-d is optional so I can participate openly. I look forward to seeing my elderly aunts, siblings, nieces and nephews, and many cousins. Some I haven't seen for…
For me the religious rites I value are related to family. Most of our observance was at home - our own or at extended family. That's why I participate still. I'm extremely fortunate to have fantastic memories of these. My twin niece and nephew are having their B'nai Mitzvah next week. It's at a Reconstructionist synagogue where belief in G-d is optional so I can participate openly. I look forward to seeing my elderly aunts, siblings, nieces and nephews, and many cousins. Some I haven't seen for years but it won't make a difference.<br/>
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Everyone has written eloquently about their own experiences and I think that that the many different religious experiences will often determine someone's answer to this question. Peacemaker, and I appreciate…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-10:2182797:Comment:19773002012-06-10T20:45:39.447ZJoan Denoohttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Peacemaker, and I appreciate your sharing and perspective. Those sweet memories of gentle times, of kind and compassionate relationships, the stories that come down through family, and see natural events through the eyes of another enriches as it empowers our own experiences. Thanks for sharing. </p>
<p>Peacemaker, and I appreciate your sharing and perspective. Those sweet memories of gentle times, of kind and compassionate relationships, the stories that come down through family, and see natural events through the eyes of another enriches as it empowers our own experiences. Thanks for sharing. </p> Oh my goodness, ideas generat…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-10:2182797:Comment:19772972012-06-10T20:35:10.198ZJoan Denoohttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Oh my goodness, ideas generated by science and quantum physic observations and hypotheses give me goosebumps. We can't look back to define our thinking. We need to imagine a preferred future and move, in the present, in that direction. What an exciting time to be alive. </p>
<p>My father and mother "knew" it was normal to violently control women and children and women must submit. It surely feels good to have the ring taken out of my nose and the harness taken off my brain. </p>
<p>Oh my goodness, ideas generated by science and quantum physic observations and hypotheses give me goosebumps. We can't look back to define our thinking. We need to imagine a preferred future and move, in the present, in that direction. What an exciting time to be alive. </p>
<p>My father and mother "knew" it was normal to violently control women and children and women must submit. It surely feels good to have the ring taken out of my nose and the harness taken off my brain. </p> Peacemaker, I like your respo…tag:www.atheistnexus.org,2012-06-10:2182797:Comment:19774042012-06-10T20:29:25.880ZJoan Denoohttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Peacemaker, I like your response and respect your caution to express, not dictate values. I also can relate to tradition as a way of expression of a sense of wonder. Looking through a telescope or microscope, watching the development of my great-grandchildren, seeing how my children became mentally healthy, mature, adult human beings with a sense of excitement about life and an eagerness to find better ways of parenting than I had, gives me great pleasure. </p>
<p>Breaking cycles of violence…</p>
<p>Peacemaker, I like your response and respect your caution to express, not dictate values. I also can relate to tradition as a way of expression of a sense of wonder. Looking through a telescope or microscope, watching the development of my great-grandchildren, seeing how my children became mentally healthy, mature, adult human beings with a sense of excitement about life and an eagerness to find better ways of parenting than I had, gives me great pleasure. </p>
<p>Breaking cycles of violence in families is difficult and requires looking honestly at generations of attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values, but that examination can lead to healthy living and is a heck of a lot more fun. </p>
<p>Remember the book, "All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten?" For me, it was not like that at all, I had to unlearn blind obedience, submission to authority, don't question, and on and on. In order to be a mentally healthy, mature, adult, I had to learn how to be independent/interdependent, be self-directed and motivated and listen for meaning and feelings of others, to question authority, and to take a stand in my self interest and stand with others who feel a boot on their necks. </p>
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